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What's Next? |
This page is to inform you about NASA's future plans for exploration. Below are NASA's main goals to be accomplished during the next three decades.
1. The Moon.
A. Starting no later than 2008, NASA will initiate a series of robotic missions to the Moon to prepare for and support future human exploration.
B. Conduct the first extended human expedition to the lunar surface between 2015 to 2020.
2. Mars and other destinations.
A. Continue to conduct robotic expeditions to Mars to search for evidence of past life, and to propare for future human expeditions.
B. Conduct advanced telescope searches for Earth-like planets, and habitable environments around other star systems.
C. Develop and demonstrate power generation, life support, propulsion, and other key inovations required to support more capable, more distant, and longer duration human missions to Mars.
D. Conduct human expeditions to Mars after acquiring enough knowledge about the planet using robotic missions, and after demonstrating sustained human exploration missions to the Moon.
3.New Space Transportation.
A. Develop a new space exploration vehicle to provide crew transportation for missions beyond low Earth orbit.
B. Conduct the initial test flight before the end of this decade so that the vehicle with the capacity to support manned exploration missions no later than 2014.